Carnegie Hall presents the second season of Sound Insights, a podcast on music, music personalities, and, of course, Carnegie Hall.

In these podcasts we will bring you artists speaking about their work and their lives, commentaries from people in the know, and much more.

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Current Episode

Thomas Adès, Leif Ove Andsnes, & Emanuel Ax

Thomas Adès, Leif Ove Andsnes, and Emanuel Ax discuss the finer points of playing the piano, including striking a balance, overcoming your fears, choosing the right instrument, and looking up to your idols.

June 10, 2008

Past Episodes

Susan Graham, David Daniels, & Isabel Bayrakdarian

Singers Susan Graham, David Daniels, and Isabel Bayrakdarian discuss stepping out of their roles as opera stars to perform intimate song recitals, where sharing the stage with just a spotlight and a piano accompanist can present its own set of challenges and rewards.

May 13, 2008

Stephen Hough & Pierre-Laurent Aimard

There are a staggering number of works written for the piano. How does a pianist decide what to play? Stephen Hough and Pierre-Laurent Aimard talk about what goes on in their minds while deciding what to play and what they want to portray to their audiences.

April 8, 2008

Lang Lang & Gil Shaham

Last minute substitutions have provided some stunning breakout opportunities for up-and-coming young performers. In this episode, we hear from violinist Gil Shaham and pianist Lang Lang on the big breaks they received early on that helped jump start their careers.

March 4, 2008

David Lang & Uri Caine

David Lang, composer and co-founder of Bang on a Can, and composer/pianist Uri Caine unravel the mystery of the compositional process, discussing their influences, and their innovative approaches to creating new works.

Working creatively within a group can be a tricky business. Edward Dusinberre, violinist with the Takács Quartet, and Alan Pierson, artistic director of Alarm Will Sound, discuss how trust among individuals in their respective ensembles can enhance the group experience.

Jan 7, 2008

Berlin in Lights, Part 2

Hear from some participants from last month’s Berlin in Lights festival, including members of the Berliner Philharmoniker, Sir Simon Rattle, and students from Upper-Manhattan who performed in the historic Rite of Spring Dance Project.

December 6, 2007

Berlin in Lights, Part 1

In this episode, we take a closer look at a few of the events featured in Carnegie Hall’s city-wide Berlin in Lights festival—from a dance project featuring 120 NYC school kids and the Berliner Philharmoniker, to the globalization of DJ culture in Berlin.

Emerson String Quartet

Members of The Emerson String Quartet talk about presenting the complete Beethoven quartet cycle in eight concerts at Carnegie Hall and discuss key aspects of Beethoven’s musical language.

May 29, 2007

Anna Netrebko, David Finckel, & Pierre-Laurent Aimard

Soprano Anna Netrebko shares her secret for breaking out of the chorus and into the spotlight; David Finckel from the Emerson String Quartet talks about their decision to perform the complete Beethoven cycle this June; and pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard traces his skill in bridging musical styles back to his very first piano lessons.

May 15, 2007

Leila Josefowicz, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, & Deborah Voigt

Violinist Leila Josefowicz talks about her break from standard repertoire, pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard discusses curating concerts from a wide array of repertoire, and soprano Deborah Voigt talks about getting up close and personal in her song recitals.

May 1, 2007

George Benjamin, & Gil Shaham

Composer George Benjamin chats about his creative process, and violinist Gil Shaham explores the roots of his love for great music, and playing with his friends.

April 17, 2007

Sarah Chang, Edgar Meyer, & Hilary Hahn

Sarah Chang talks about switching gears between pieces during a recital; Edgar Meyer points out that knowing your playing partner well can make all the difference when composing a new work; and Hilary Hahn recalls the excitement of Edgar Meyer's compositional process.

April 3, 2007

David Robertson, Vijay Iyer, Harold Meltzer, & Ingrid Fliter

David Robertson lets us in on the inspiration behind his critically hailed programs; composers Vijay Iyer and Harold Meltzer each take a turn at the keyboard as composer/performers; and pianist Ingrid Fliter gives the inside story on how she gets acquainted with a new instrument at every tour stop.

In preparation for his upcoming Latin jazz workshop, Paquito D’Rivera shares some insights into what makes great educators; high school choirs from across the country gear up for the Carnegie Hall National High School Choral Festival; and Thomas Quasthoff talks about the challenges and the rewards of working with young singers.

March 6, 2007

Thomas Quasthoff, & Nico Muhly

In this episode, bass-baritone Thomas Quasthoff reveals his other great musical love—jazz, and 25-year-old composer Nico Muhly talks about launching his own composing career, and the inspiration he gets from sacred music from the 16th century.

February 20, 2007

Geri Allen, & David Byrne

In this episode, jazz pianist and composer Geri Allen talks about some of the key ingredients involved in making great jazz. We also hear again from David Byrne, talking this time about the music that has shaped his own sensibilities.

February 6, 2007

David Byrne, & Jonathan Biss

In this episode, co-founder of Talking Heads, David Byrne, gives insight about curating a four-night series of concerts at Carnegie Hall, and piano virtuoso Jonathan Biss cautions about putting too much stock in your own press.

January 23, 2007

Carol Maillard from Sweet Honey In The Rock, & Daniel Barenboim

In this episode, Carol Maillard from Sweet Honey in the Rock talks about the connection the group makes with the youngest members of their fan base, and Daniel Barenboim talks about his holistic approach to music making.

In this episode, Marilyn Horne and Barbara Cook discuss qualities they listen for in young singers, and Jaime Laredo, Cho-Liang Lin, and Gil Shaham talk about the impact of the New York String Orchestra on young musicians.

In this episode, soprano Renée Fleming and violinist Midori talk about the power of early experiences in music. We also hear from Daniel Barenboim about the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra and how prejudices are overcome when young Israeli and Arab musicians come together to perform side-by-side.

December 6, 2006

To purchase the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra’s latest recording, “Live in Berlin” from the Shop at Carnegie Hall, click here.

For more information or to purchase Renée Fleming’s latest album, “Homage—The Age of the Diva”, click here.

Dorothea Röschmann, Warren Jones, & Gerard McBurney

In this episode, soprano Dorothea Röschmann and pianist Warren Jones talk about what it takes to create a successful musical collaboration, and musicologist Gerard McBurney takes us into the gritty world of Bartók’s Miraculous Mandarin.

November 21, 2006

Anne-Sophie Mutter, Barbara Cook, & Marina Frolova-Walker

In this episode we hear from violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter about Mozart; chanteuse Barbara Cook about singing Sondheim; and Cambridge University lecturer Marina Frolova-Walker about Shostakovich and his songs.

Roswell Rudd, Steve Reich, & Thomas Quasthoff

In this episode: Jazz trombonist Roswell Rudd jams with a group of Mongolian throat singers, Steve Reich talks about where he found the inspiration for his Daniel Variations and Thomas Quasthoff recalls his own Carnegie Hall debut.

October 24, 2006

Leon Fleisher, Toru Takemitsu, & Steve Reich

In this episode: Pianist Leon Fleisher tells a story about the great Jascha Heifetz, we hear a reminiscence of Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu, and Steve Reich discusses his 1971 work Drumming.

In this episode we hear from pianist Leif Ove Andsnes on Mozart; world music critic Richard Gehr on Ladysmith Black Mambazo; and Carnegie Hall’s archivist Gino Francesconi on Carnegie Hall’s very first opening night in 1891.